Process Technology Quick Reference Cards
Gas Processing
Chapter from the Process Technology Quick Reference Cards.
GAS PROCESSING (AMINE, SRU, TGTU)
Process Objective
Remove H2S and CO2 from process gas streams (amine treating), convert H2S to elemental sulfur (Claus), and clean tail gas to meet emission limits.
Key Operating Variables
| Variable | Typical Range | Effect / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amine Circulation Rate | Dependent on H2S + CO2 load | Sets absorber size and reboiler duty |
| Rich Amine Loading | 0.3-0.5 mol acid gas / mol amine | Higher loading → less circulation but closer to corrosion limit |
| Claus Furnace Temp | 1,800-2,500°F | Must be >1,800°F for BTX destruction |
| Claus Recovery | 95-97% (2-stage), 97-98% (3-stage) | Additional stage adds 1-2% recovery |
| TGTU Performance | Overall >99.8% S recovery | Required to meet SO2 emission limits |
Process Configurations
Amine Treating: MDEA (selective H2S), DEA (non-selective), DGA (for COS/CS2)
Claus Sulfur Recovery: thermal stage + 2-3 catalytic stages (Al2O3 catalyst)
Tail Gas Treating: SCOT (hydrogenation + amine), Beavon-MDEA, biological
Sour Water Stripper: single-stage or two-stage for H2S and NH3 removal
Products & Yields
Sweet gas: <4 ppmv H2S (pipeline spec) or <1 ppmv (chem plant feed)
Sulfur: liquid elemental sulfur (marketed or stored)
Clean tail gas: <250 ppmv SO2 equivalent (typical emission limit)
Stripped water: reuse in desalter or cooling tower
Common Troubleshooting
High H2S in sweet gas: check amine quality, circulation rate, absorber condition
Low Claus conversion: catalyst deactivation (sulfation), temperature imbalance
High SO2 emissions: Claus or TGTU underperforming — check catalyst, operations
Amine foaming: contaminants (HC, solids, degradation products) — filter, reclaim
Source: Process_Tech_Quick_Reference_Cards_v1.xlsx · sheet “Gas Processing”
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